JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 19:00

INsite got the chance to chat with JT Woofruff, lead singer from Hawthorne Heights, in between a lengthy highway sojourn en route to a show in South Carolina. The band will perform Sunday, Nov. 22, at Common Grounds.

By Jon Silman

 

What do you do to prepare for a tour? Do you go out and buy a ton of socks and underwear?
I buy my toiletries and stuff like that. Shampoo, conditioner and deodorant. I have the largest collection of socks and underwear because of touring. I have 150 pairs of socks. They're all exactly the same. I'm a notoriously late packer - I pack the night before. If I don't have it I'm not bringing it I guess.

What kind of beer should people buy you at the show? [Note: JT doesn't drink alcohol. He's straight edge. I felt stupid when he told me.]
Ginger ale.

Tell me about your new record, Skeletons.
Yeah, it's the longest we've ever taken to write a record. We spent over a year writing songs and recorded it over a two month period, and it's just getting mixed. We're really happy with the songs and everything because we spent so much time on them.

When can we expect a new single?
Early next year before the album comes out. No single yet. You can't release a single in the winter unless you're Beyoncé .

Interesting. She's hot. I gotta say that.
(Laughs) Oh yeah.

What's your favorite video game of all time?
Halo 3.

What band can't you stop listening to?
I'd have to say Tom Petty. We're all really in to him. He's a really great songwriter.

What's the most ridiculously flashy thing you've bought with your rock star money?
I'm not a super flashy guy. One time I bought an acoustic guitar that was $3,500. It was a vintage 1965 Gibson. I don't really spend a lot of money on things, but I wanted a really nice, old acoustic guitar.

Did you always want to be a musician?
You know, it's funny: when I really started listening to music and paying attention to it was in the hair metal days. I have an older sister, and she introduced me to bands like Poison and Guns 'N' Roses. That's the first time I ever thought, "That would be really awesome to do." And then I started listening to Green Day, and that's when I started playing and wanting to be in a band.

Green Day huh? What album, Dookie?
Yup exactly.

 

Hawthorne Heights has been around for a while now. Over the course of your career, what's the most surreal thing that has happened to you? I'm sure there have been a few of those moments, but one thing that really, really sticks out.
You know I would say stuff like doing the Jay Leno show or Conan O'Brien. Doing a late-night show. You grow up watching that stuff and never think that it's attainable. Just playing on TV is crazy, it's pretty amazing and pretty surreal.

Have you ever had your heart broken?
Not particularly. I've had my heart broken by losing family members and friends but never by a girl.

Not even when you were in middle school or anything?
Ha, not really. I've always been a bit of a heartbreaker myself. I always dump the girl. But I've been with my wife forever, she's really sweet, and we get along really well.

Do you have any pets?
Yeah, I have two cats. They get crazy.

My cat ruins my blinds. Every pair of blinds in my house get ruined by that insane, destructive ball of fur and bones.
Mine are always smackin' at the things that pull the blinds up and down. They're crazy.

Any surprises planned for the show?
Yeah we're doing a lot of songs we've never played live before. You're gonna get to hear a good mix of old stuff and new stuff... [JT was about to tell me about something they were giving away, but I assume he entered a very rural part of South Carolina and the call was lost].